The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Idris Olorunnimbe, has unveiled plans aimed at attracting smartphone manufacturers to Nigeria, promising to facilitate presidential incentives for investors willing to establish production facilities in the country.
Olorunnimbe said the initiative forms part of efforts to reduce the high cost of smartphones, expand digital inclusion and strengthen Nigeria's position as a technology manufacturing hub in Africa.
He made the commitment during his address at the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable held in Shanghai, China, on June 24, according to a statement released on Saturday.
The NCC board chairman said local smartphone production represents the most sustainable solution to Nigeria's growing device affordability challenge, noting that millions of Nigerians remain excluded from the digital economy because smartphones are beyond their financial reach.
To encourage investment, Olorunnimbe pledged to personally engage President Bola Tinubu to secure waivers and other government incentives for manufacturers that commit to commencing factory construction in Nigeria before November.
"If any manufacturer in this room, or any manufacturer listening to these proceedings will commit to building a factory in Nigeria, and to beginning construction between now and November, I will take that commitment to the President myself and seek the waivers and the support you need to make it happen," he said.
According to him, establishing smartphone manufacturing plants in Nigeria would significantly reduce dependence on imported devices while lowering production costs through increased local content.
He explained that producing smartphones within the country would also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate local supply chains and reduce the pressure caused by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
Olorunnimbe noted that Nigeria's heavy reliance on imported mobile devices has exposed consumers to rising prices, unstable exchange rates and global supply chain disruptions, making smartphones increasingly unaffordable for many households.
He said local manufacturing would allow a substantial portion of production costs to be denominated in naira, thereby stabilising prices and making smartphones more accessible to millions of Nigerians.
The NCC chairman stressed that affordable smartphones are no longer luxury items but essential tools for participation in modern society.
According to him, access to quality smartphones enables citizens to benefit from online education, digital banking, e-commerce, remote work opportunities, healthcare services and government digital platforms.
"Local manufacturing will help expand digital inclusion by making quality smartphones more affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, students and small business owners," he said.
Beyond affordability, Olorunnimbe said domestic smartphone production could transform Nigeria into a regional hub for device assembly and technology manufacturing.
He explained that the industry would create opportunities across multiple sectors, including engineering, logistics, component supply, retail, technical services and after-sales support, thereby boosting industrialisation and economic growth.
However, he acknowledged that previous attempts at assembling smartphones locally failed to gain widespread acceptance due to concerns over product quality, inadequate after-sales services and weak consumer confidence.
He insisted that any renewed effort must focus on delivering devices that meet global quality standards while remaining competitively priced.
"The aim is to build phones in Nigeria that match the imported phones on quality and beat them on price. A locally made device that asks Nigerians to settle for less is not worth making," he stated.
Highlighting the market potential, Olorunnimbe observed that Nigeria remains one of Africa's largest telecommunications markets, with more than 170 million mobile connections and over 150 million mobile internet users.
He said the Federal Government's digital economy agenda has already laid the foundation for greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure and local manufacturing, adding that the next stage should focus on converting policy ambitions into tangible industrial growth.
To strengthen public confidence in locally manufactured devices, the NCC chairman disclosed that the commission is upgrading its regulatory framework through revised Type Approval Regulations and the proposed Device Management System.
According to him, the measures are designed to curb the circulation of counterfeit, cloned and stolen devices while improving product traceability, market accountability and consumer protection.
"A phone is only truly cheap if it is real, if it is safe, if it connects properly, and if it carries a warranty the buyer can rely on," he said.
Olorunnimbe also advocated the expansion of smartphone financing schemes through instalment payment options, arguing that many Nigerians are unable to afford the upfront cost of modern devices despite their importance for education, business and economic participation.
He urged governments, regulators and private sector stakeholders across Africa to collaborate in supporting local smartphone production, harmonising device standards and expanding access to affordable digital tools.
According to him, stronger regional cooperation will help build a more resilient, competitive and self-reliant African digital economy while accelerating the continent's technological development.